The Resurrections in the Bible

A question for you: Do you believe in the doctrine of resurrection of the body, don' you? Considering the Bible teachings and the sure word of prophecy, how many group resurrections are predicted? I use to understand from the study of Revelation, chapter twenty, as the popular view teaches on only two great group resurrections: the first at the second coming of Jesus, for all the saints and, the second, after the thousand years, for the great judgment day of all the wicked, from all generations, ending with their final destruction in the lake of fire. Now, studying the book of Daniel, on the twelve chapter, we have a description of a near future event: When Michael (Jesus Christ), the great prince, shall stand for the children of Daniel's people (spiritual modern Israel) during the time of trouble... And, here comes my dilemma: (at that time!) "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to same and everlasting contempt." Question: Is possible to apply this prophetic words to the teaching of Revelation twenty, we just considered? What is your opinion? When and why it shall take place?

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Thank you for your participation. Would you share your study with us? Thus, many may be bless by it...

Now, let me repeat the question for you: Is possible to apply this prophetic words (Daniel 12:2 to the teaching of Revelation twenty? What is your opinion? When and why it (the resurrection mentioned in Daniel) shall take place?

Yes, you are right about the two main resurrections, which are the first resurrection of the saints at Jesus second coming, and then after the 1000 years and at His third coming to the earth together with all His saints and the capital city of New Jerusalem, there will be another resurrection called the second resurrection for the wicked.

But based on the text you quoted there will be a special resurrection for just a specially chosen group from both the saints and the wicked. From among the saints, EGW mentioned about very special people throughout the ages and those who died during the proclamation of the three angels message. They will be given the privilege to witness the glory of the coming of the Lord whom they have faithfully served and some even have sacrificed their lives for Him, and of course among others, the prophet of Daniel. Then from among the wicked will be included those who have plotted against Jesus to crucify Him, and those who persecuted His followers through the ages and those who blatantly were against the proclamation of the truth. These all will be resurrected, the wicked only temporarily and the resurrected saints will be taken with the living saints to the city of New Jerusalem to live there for 1000 years and after that for eternity here on earth.

I really appreciated you explanation. It brings light to the very point we are considering. Please, continue with us and, share more of your conclusions on this particular prophetic event: when such mix group resurrection shall take place? How long before the coming of Jesus in glory? How are they coming from the grave? What will happen with the saints among them? What will happen with the wicked among them, during that time till they witness the glorious coming of our Lord? How all these facts are so relevant to God's people today? Thank you.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

It is one of the clues which lead to a belief in the special resurrection. This is a doctrine which is rarely spoken about in the church but is found in the Spirit of Prophecy. Some suggest the following text also hints at a special resurrection:

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

The idea is certain people will arise just before the Second Coming to witness His arrival. A third hint:

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

This is very controversial, not well understood, and not generally discussed. Only deep students of the Bible have any clue about this.

Yes, as you mentioned, this must be a doctrine and part of the Present Truth. I am seeing that in Daniel 12:2, we might have the explanation on how Matthew 26:64 and Revelation 1:7 could be fulfilled! Is it not wonderful? Oh, sad is what you mentioned about it being so controversial, misinterpreted or just ignored by many... Should we not try help to bring it to the simplicity of the Gospel? I see Jesus Christ as the center of such prophecy, because He is Michael, who shall stand for His people! Who at that very time, time of trouble, as never happened before shall bring these mix group to life again and keep them alive to see Him coming in glory!!! So, if we died in the faith today, we may be called in such occasion and have this privilege, too?

Yes it is possible, when we relate the prophecy of Rev. 20 and Daniel 21. Jesus says "every eye will see the son of a man comming in his glory" so all saints and evil will see him comming with his glory. The saints will be saved after resuration and the evil will wait their punnishment. May be recall to the comments below Quated from the bible commentary [BC].

"How Satan’s activities will be brought to a halt is clear from the context and from other scriptures, which show that the earth will be utterly depopulated at the second coming of Christ. According to ch. 19:19–21 the wicked are all destroyed in connection with the coming (see comment there). At the same time the righteous are "caught up … in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17). Paul’s language shows that at His second coming Christ does not establish His kingdom on earth; else why would He remove the saints from the earth? Its establishment takes place after the close of the millennium, when the New Jerusalem comes down (Rev. 21:1–3). That Jesus removes the saints from the earth at His coming is further implied in John 14:1–3. In comforting His disciples in their sorrow concerning His departure, Jesus informed them that He was going to His Father’s house, where He would prepare dwellings for them. Then He would return and take them to be with Him. Compare John 13:36; 17:24. The dwellings are doubtless in the New Jerusalem, which is not transferred to this earth until the close of the millennium (see on Rev. 21:1–3).

The group that is caught up to meet the Lord in the air includes both the righteous dead, who are raised at the time of the advent, and the righteous living, who are "changed" (1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17). The company of resurrected saints thus includes all the righteous who have ever lived upon the earth. There are but two main resurrections, the "resurrection of life" and the "resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29; Acts 24:15). At these resurrections, "all that are in the grave … shall come forth" (John 5:28, 29). Some have insisted that the phrase "dead in Christ" (1 Thess. 4:16) includes only the Christians who have died, and that the OT[Old Testament] saints are not included. But the above scriptures show that all the righteous come forth in the resurrection of the just. The phrase "dead in Christ" need not exclude the OT saints, for they died with their hope fixed on a Messiah to come. Their resurrection is dependent upon the resurrection of Christ, for only "in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22). The resurrection of the righteous is further described as the "first resurrection" (Rev. 20:5, 6)."

Eze 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, Eze 37:2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. Eze 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Eze 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Eze 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. Eze 37:8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Eze 37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. Eze 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Eze 37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Eze 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, Eze 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Thank for leaving you question. You mentioned: Mic 7:16, 17 The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

Yes, in one way we may apply these verses to all the wonderful works of God; men are not able to explain them and are confounded by them. Resurrection can not be explained; we accept by faith in Jesus' promise and by the fact that He resurrected some people and came from the grave Himself. Read 1 Cor. 15:12-20.

The most wonderful thing is that the saints that died after 1844, under the third angel's message, keeping the Sabbath are seal and shall resurrect before the second coming of Jesus. They will be alive to see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven; so they are part of the Israel of God of this last days. Rev 14:12-14.

Perhaps you are suggesting that worms coming out of their holes is a simile for resurrection. It is possible to imply this but I suspect it is attempting to add too much to the text. It sounds more like frightened men coming out of their hiding places. Cross reference with Rev 6:15. Those who work the soil have observed earthworms unearthing themselves when there is a disturbance in the soil.

This is getting a little more detailed than I think is useful to ponder. However, it is an interesting concept. I think we can find guidance in the first mass resurection recorded in the Bible.

Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

The indication is they did not have to dig themselves out. Other references also indicate something similar. I find it awkward to imagine God would raise the saints and then make them dig themselves out.